Dodgers' Puig homers for 1st time since return

LOS ANGELES — Yasiel Puig hit a three-run homer in the third inning of the Dodgers’ come-from-behind, 7-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Puig’s blast put the Dodgers ahead 3-2 in his second start since being recalled last week after a monthlong demotion to the minors. It was his first homer since he returned to the majors.

“The homer was great. It was a big hit for us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But the at-bat quality he had throughout the day, hitting the cutoff man, throwing to the right base, backing up — there’s a lot of things Yasiel did today to help us win a baseball game.”

In the Dodgers’ 4-2 loss to San Diego on Friday, Puig went 2-for-4. In his two stints with the Dodgers this season, Puig is hitting .265 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs.

“I’m very happy with the opportunity my teammates have given me, very thankful for their support, and it motivates me to do better on the field,” Puig told MLB.com after the game. “When you do your job, everything works out better — when you prepare, when you’re in the dugout. Those are the things I didn’t do before and now I’m doing them.”

The NL West-leading Dodgers took two of three from last-place San Diego, increasing their lead to three games over the Giants, who lost to the Cubs 3-2 in 13 innings.